'It's all about the kids'
Published Monday December 1st, 2008
Parade | Christmas is closing in on us, only 24 more days
There's nothing Arden Doak enjoys more than seeing thousands of people gathered together with smiles on their faces to welcome the holiday season.
Doak has been chairman of the Nashwaaksis Kin Santa Parade for more than 30 years. His dedication to the event and ability to recruit volunteers, along with the Nashwaaksis Kin Club, brings the parade to life every year. And this year was no exception.
People young and old stood side by side along the streets of Fredericton's downtown Saturday to watch the parade. Adults socialized and laughed while children had trouble containing their excitement for the start of the parade and a glimpse of Santa Claus.
"The weather was great, the turn-out was fantastic and everything went off without a hitch," Doak said. "Everyone seems to enjoy the tradition of the Santa parade every year.
"It's a lot of work, but it's worth it to see how excited the children are. We're just happy to be able to make it happen for them."
The theme for this year's parade, the 12 days of Christmas, was evident on many of the floats.
Five glowing golden rings, several geese and many partridges were visible as more than 50 lighted floats were driven down King and Queen streets.
"It's a wonderful thing to be involved in," said Robert Miner of Investors Group, one of the entrants in the parade. "This event is a nice way to bring Investors Group employees and their families together to get into the spirit of the season."
Miner said Investors Group has been involved in the parade for three years in a row and hopes to enter a float again next year.
Bob Dewitt, owner of Bob's Towing Ltd., said he'll be there to help pull the Investors Group float when the parade is held on the north side of the river next year.
"This is a nice way for companies, like ours and the Investors Group, to work together to do something for the kids," Dewitt said. "It's a way to advertise our businesses, but also give back to the community. And I think the employees enjoy it too."
But this year's parade wasn't just about entertaining.
Jacob Peters, a volunteer in the parade, said the event was also a way to raise money for local service groups.
He, along with a large group of volunteers, travelled the parade route with jugs to collect money for Operation Keep the Change.
The money raised will go to the Salvation Army, Community Kitchen and Fredericton Food Bank.
"People are responding well to Operation Keep the Change," Peters said during the parade Saturday. "Sometimes they seek us out to donate and other times we just put our collection jugs out there and people throw their loose change in.
"It's a simple idea and it's for a good cause."
Volunteers from Canada Post joined the Operation Keep the Change crew in the parade to collect letters for Santa.
"From the letter collecting to the music, the parade is all about tradition mixed with new themes and new entrants," Doak said. "It's just a really great time and something I imagine the Kin Club will continue to bring to Fredericton for a long time to come."
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Deer Hunter thats right no one needs to have a bible shoved in their face and that is what happend. I threw mine right back at them. ***REMOVED BY CANADAEAST***